Migmate T135 Turbo mig welder thoughts

[PeteIOM]

What with the renovations I'm looking to get done on my camper I'm slightly considering getting a mig welder and having a bash at it myself. I do a fair bit of tinkering on my trumpet bonnie so reckon with a bit of practice I could turn me hand to welding and saving some money on getting folks to do it for me.
I've hunted round the interweb and welders.co.uk rang me back after I sent a web contact message asking about a particular model or welder and wether it would be suitable for what I want... on first impressions I like this company, bloke rang me back within an hour and suggested a slightly cheaper model that came with a welding helmet rather than the hand held.
This is the model he suggested...

http://welders.co.uk/Product/Mig_Welder ... ders/04790

Anyone got any opinion on this model or spec?

Cheers
Pete

[sarran1955]

Hello,

I am a professional welder nearing retirement, and have seen some scary things in my time, not least on this forum!!

Semi automatic plants, known as MIG/MAG have the advantage of being easy to use, especially on thin materials.

BUT: good welding is not microsoft windows plug and play.

A few hints.

1) Does your local college offer evening welding classes. If yes, then sign up.

2) If the plant does not have a wire feed motor made in Sweden or Switzerland, don't bother.

3) 130 amps at 20% duty cycle is too low. Best available in single phase (220-240 volt) is 170 amperes @80% duty cycle.

4) Use an Argon/CO2 mix. Pub gas bottles (CO2) is for morons.

5) Do not use cored (gasless wire), except for angle iron fence supports.

6) Buy an electronic welding helmet from £80.

Its not that I'm bitter and twisted, but I have seen so much sh*t in my time , exceeded only by the waffle of people who should'nt be allowed to play with an aerosol can, never mind a welding plant. By the way, after the first 30 years it does get easier!!!

Never mind,

Cordialement,

[PeteIOM]

Thanks for the reply...

I was just wondering though.. you say that 130amps at 20% cycle isn't enough. As I said before my main aim and purpose in buying this/doing this is panel repair and from what I've researched its unlikely I'll be anywhere near needing 130amps for the work I want to do.. so doesn't my cycle get better at lower amps?

[Plasticman]

?

[PeteIOM]

ohh and Microsoft plug and play is truly shocking... wouldn't even touch it with someone else's barge pole!

[Plasticman]

Pete its not just the duty cycle, which as you correctly say decreases with increase in output ( sounds almost like government plain english )if you are only on a low output any given machine will have a greater duty cycle,its about how much 'reserve' I cant think of a way to describe it ( maybe riding a 50cc moped at 25mph and then riding t'owd bonnie at the same speed I know which would be smoother and better to get to 30) its the only analagy I can think of but when you know how to weld with a mig and you set the machine to do a weld and squeeze the trigger its about how it welds, how the wire feeds out is it constant,smooth the plant must have the capacity to hold current and voltage without a noticable drop,
A bad/poor cheapish machine will be a pig to use compared to a real mig and when your learning you dont want to be put off and struggle when it may not be your fault.forget fluxed wire (gasless) and use an argon mix not co2
Look there are folk reading this who can describe it better than me so put me out of my misery please
Ive a mate on the island thats a welder comes bike restorer I will shout him in a day or 2 and maybe he can help,
mike

[AngeloEvs]

Hmm, I wouldn't let some of the comments in the first post put you off! A more appropriate response would be to determine what level of restoration/repairs are needed and then offer professional advice based on your needs/requirements and future projects. Do you anticipate carrying out structural chassis repairs or mainly skin/panel sections and to what extent?

Just a couple of observations, a pub gas bottle can be filled with Argon (not just CO) and will be a lot more economical than the disposable bottles that are available. I use gas and gasless and have done for many years - each has its advantages and disadvantages and depends on what is best suited for the job in hand, method used, etc.

[PeteIOM]

thanks for the replies...
My main aim is panel repair and other light stuff. I was hoping the above welder would be up to the job.. the guy was dead helpful, but then again he is trying to sell me something.
I'm just trying to understand whats wrong with the one ive linked.. as feature wise it "looked" ideal for panel work.. everything I've read certainly suggests I don't need anything over 150amps, gas/gasless etc... hmmm I'll keep looking and asking

I'm not really into doing a night class and would rather just research and practice.. I'm no genius but I'd like to think I'm no muppet either

[AngeloEvs]

Cannot comment on the SIP, I have a gas/gasless Clarke which is a popular choice and served me well for panel work. Do a search on google for reviews and comparisons of the various MIgs currently available in your price range. You will also find many on-line tutorial videos that cover both gas and gasless MIG welding as well as articles and advice regarding what to look for and which to choose. An auto Darkening helmet should be included in your budget if one isn't included.

[CovKid]

I've got a SIP Migmate (non-turbo) around the same amperage and it struggles to keep up if I do a lot of work in one go, BUT I can generally weld what I need to weld. I imagine that welder would do the job with the extra cooling. From a professional point of view its probably seen as underpowered and I guess the addition of a fan to keep it cool is a way around that. If you're not a pro welder but want something to do light work, it will be fine. Not rubbishing anyones comments as they're all valid but its a compact unit and would do the job - just. In an ideal world we'd all like the bees knees in terms of equipment but budget is often the restricting factor.

Would agree on the CO2/Argon mix too. I use disposable canisters (damned expensive) but only use the CO2/Argon mix now as it seems much much smoother to use

Mind you, my neighbour is a pro welder (30 years+) and wheels out this enormous bit of kit when he MIGs anything. It makes mincemeat of anything its asked to do. My migmate wouldn't even come close to the guage of steel his can handle but I live with the limitations of what I have (a gift at that) and get by OK. Chickenkoop sometimes uses it (hes an experienced welder) and says its 'good enough' - Nuff said.

[Plasticman]

As he says above, pete looking at your original post it shows all the bits of stuff thrown in ie auto shield etc so within the price its a cheap welder I would rather spend the money on the welder and buy the extras as needed, 130a is enough for the work your looking to do but I would want a little better spec'd machine,
mike

[syncrosimon]

I have this Sip 105 Migmate welder


I bought it from Halfords about 12 years ago and has been faultless. All the spares are available from Halfords, which is great when you run out of nozzles and shields on a Sunday morning.

I have just welded up a trailer with 2mm thick box section steel. This was a little too much for this welder. I found that I had to either thin the metal with by grinding the weld area to get the penetration, or cut castellations around the edge of the welded join, removing enough material to get a decent pool of molten metal, and a deep weld.

There is always a way.

The welder is meant for car body work which it does with ease.

The disposable co2 argon mix cylinders are around 13.00 quid iirc from Halfords, but at the local farmers merchants they are 9.00 quid.

[Plasticman]

See your other topic plus , http://www.screwfix.com/prods/30030/Pow ... lder-150A#
looks half decent for the money weight 35kg so unless it has a breeze block inside ???
out of interest Im at slewmix on monday I will see if they have one in and have a butchers
mike

[sarran1955]

Hello again,

Well I've been looking at this thread and I must say that overall I am heartened by the level of responses.

As in all equipment bought new you get what you pay for.

Let's look at a parallel example: you want to buy an angle grinder, ( presumably as a necessary accessory to your new welding plant )

So you look in your tools' r ' us catalogue and you see the Bosch and Metabo tools at say,€150 ea. No no no you say, I only want to do a little DIY, so I'll go for the Parkside tool at €30.

So you get the box home, and start using the tool, Ha Ha you say, what a clever fellow I am, this does just the same job as the more expensive Bosch, and even comes with a spare set of brushes!! just look at the money I've saved.

Yeah! Youv'e got yourself a 450 watt, 115 mm dia, brushed motor with screamer gearbox, loads of backlash,30"electric lead and a silly disk key made of spaghetti metal.

The Bosch-Metabo-Hilti-Suzuki etc, has a 1600 watt induction motor, carries a 125 mm disc, 2 metres of lead and has keyless locking.

What I am trying to show is that if you can afford throwaway tools then so be it.

Returning to Semi Auto plants. Yes you can get a 130 amp 4 setting machine with an integral torch 5 kg spool capacity and a wobbly wire feed motor, but perhaps better a 170amp (single phase) with electrolux motor, 15 kg spool capacity. and a proper eurocoupling for a torch, (preferably a Binzel Abicore MB15 or MB25)

This is the sort of machine you can buy 2nd hand without too much difficulty and resell when you want to upgrade.

Again I say, ask at your local tech College about welding courses. I agree that you may acquire a skill that will be rarely used, but you can impress the H*ll out of you friends and neighbours!!

My choice for small machines would be BOC, SIP, or even Machine mart/Sealy, Bearing in mind the specs I have given above.

Have you looked at plant rental?, with the advantage of being able to rent the gas (8% CO2/92% argon) at the same time.

I hope this will not discourage you, and just think, once you have mastered MIG/MAG, you can learn the delights of MMA and TIG

PS: A good Bullsh*t filter is to ask the 'expert', what does MIG/MAG stand for, and what is the difference


Cordialement!!

[PeteIOM]

Hey.. again.. thanks for the replies!

I'll just say now.. I'm not a complete numpty/newbie and am aware of the differences between cheap and cheerful that let you down and midrange to expensive that see you through many projects.
Welding is a whole new things for me.. hence the thread.. but I do believe I can make good at it with a bit of practice.. and advice as to the sort of welder to buy.. and just to reinforce what I said before.. panel work is all im interested in as far this purchase goes.

Thanks for the advice though peeps.. theres been a good few suggestions and appreciate you lifetime welders passing on your experiences and thoughts.. really is appreciated... (any of your ever get stuck with a guitar chord let me know!)